HC reserves orders on plea for police association

The Madras High Court has reserved orders on a petition by a constable seeking approval for an association for police personnel after Tamil Nadu government opposed the plea saying it already was having several welfare and grievance redressal schemes for the uniformed personnel.
Justice M Jaichandren yesterday reserved orders for July 13 on the petition filed by Grade-I constable Senthil Kumar of Thirumangalam in Madurai district.
In its counter-affidavit, the state government submitted that already there were several welfare, educational and grievance redressal schemes for police personnel and approval or recognition of an association for them could not be demanded as a matter of right.

State Advocate General A L Somayaji and Additional Government Pleader P Sanjay Gandhi submitted that so far at least nine police personnel have sought government's approval for Police Union/Association.
Stating that the DGP had passed detailed orders rejecting the requests, the AG said government's decisions had also been accepted by the high court and the Supreme Court in the past.
But not satisfied with the orders of this court and the apex court and the orders of the competent authority (DGP), the police personnel have approached the high court repeatedly with the same prayer, he said.

Detailing about various schemes introduced by government for the police personnel, the counter said the state had a slew of welfare schemes for constables and the measures were working quite well, leaving the plea for a separate association redundant.

The counter filed by IGP (Welfare) H M Jayaram said the government was conscious of the fact that police personnel might have legitimate grievances and there was a need for a redressal mechanism.
"As per the directions of the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, all grievances redressal measures have been taken and they are successfully going on," it said.